Suzanne Loughlin

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This entry is part 32 of 69 in the series

Suzanne Loughlin

Imperial Distributors, Inc.Director, Human Resources

Years with company: Two years

Mentors and how have they assisted you in your career:My family taught me that being successful requires a strong work ethic and self-discipline. My church youth group minister taught me to “Be the change you want to see in the world” and that “Actions matter far more than words.” I work on these both personally, and professionally. I lead by example by responding quickly, acting decisively and communicating effectively. It is important to take the opportunity to capture and demonstrate best practices with humility and empathy.

What are you most proud of in your career achievements? Do you have a defining moment of your career to date?When I think of career accomplishments, a few come to mind. Certainly, there are those that directly impact the bottom line; achieving savings of a half a million dollars overhauling the benefits design for a former company with a tight profit margin. More recently, I was tasked with championing a multi-faceted worker’s compensation program which decreased company liability by 32% over last year. However, I am most proud of day-to-day decisions where I am challenged to “Do the right thing,” which is the example set by Imperial CEO Michael Sleeper. Whether it’s giving an applicant a chance at the job of their dreams, managing policy consistently, or ensuring our team members fully understand the impact of their healthcare spending, it’s those efforts and decisions that impact lives both personally and professionally. Those are what matter most to me.

Most challenging part of your job:Being an HR professional is rewarding in that we work to shape a culture that empowers our company’s greatest asset, our people. Empowering our people increases morale, higher performance and job satisfaction. However, it’s also challenging as HR is often viewed as an administrative vs. a strategic function. It is important to proactively promote HR interventions that will add to the bottom line, instead of merely responding to requests for service. HR gains credibility with the leadership team by deriving a clear HR strategy that translates into concrete actions and tangible results.

Advice for upcoming younger executives:My advice for younger colleagues is to function with a strong work ethic, empathetic attitude, and treat everyone similarly, no matter organizational level, or place in society. More importantly, enjoy what you do and have fun!

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